Witness history

Toward the end of the first half of Basehor-Linwood’s boys basketball game against Pembroke Hill Monday, athletic director Joe Keeler walked over to the P.A. announcer, note card in hand.

“He’s at 999,” Keeler told the announcer after a Colin Murphy three-point shot put the senior a basket away from joining exclusive company.

On the other end of the court, Colin twice swatted the ball away and took off up court. Another three-point attempt. No good. Foul. Number four, Colin Murphy.

Before long, though, the Bobcats were in transition again and Colin had the ball. He dished it to sophomore J.P. Downing, who beamed it right back to Colin, again positioned behind the arc.

Wide open.

•••

Would you believe that Colin’s twin brother, Ryan Murphy, is himself just 15 points shy of 1,000 career points? Of course he is.

By the end of the Bobcat Invitational, the Murphy twins are likely to join another pair of Basehor-Linwood siblings in the school’s record book. Before this week, Greg (1992-95) and Jake Laffere (1995-99) were the only Bobcats to have ever cracked four figures in scoring.

Absent the creation of a new stat category — pre-game chest bumps? — the accolade is about the only mark the twins hadn’t yet made on their team’s records.

Take a moment to consider the numbers.

Would you believe that in the 2009-10 season, Ryan and Colin TIED for third all-time in total field goals made (133-133)? Would you believe that they came in just 16 baskets above the two players tied for fifth, and that those two players were AGAIN Ryan and Colin (117-117)?

Would you believe that the Murphy twins inhabit six spots on the top-10 all-time season field goal percentages? Of course they do.

•••

Ryan was born first, and just four ounces separated the twins’ weights. It’s so ironic how everything has played out, their mother, Paula Murphy said.

Ryan — whose recent performances include a 31-point outburst against Bonner Springs — started all four years. Colin could have, but was more comfortable coming off the bench his freshman year, which also was the Bobcats’ state championship season.

Ryan scored more early in his career, but then Colin caught up, too.

It’s kind of amazing, Paula continues, that her boys could each reach 1,000 points in the same tournament. Then again, even their ACT and state assessment scores are nearly identical, even after multiple attempts.

The two-sport athletes will likely wait until after the season to make college choices. They most recently visited Pittsburg State on Saturday and have also looked at Washburn, Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State. The twins have made unofficial visits to Kansas University and Kansas State University, of which their allegiance is divided. Colin, like his father, is a KSU fan. Ryan, like his mother, is a KU fan.

Their uncle, Dennis Murphy, thinks they realize that football offers them the best opportunity for a post-collegiate career. But a school that would allow them to play both — and on the same team — is very much a consideration for the two.

•••

They’re leaders now, and they want their own rings.

Part of the reason that didn’t happen last year was that the team grew complacent after it won its fourth-straight Bobcat Invitational, Colin said before Monday’s game.

And so here the Bobcats are again, ranked first in 4-A in the state by MaxPreps.com and with a matchup in the tournament against second-ranked Ottawa very much a possibility.

Sure, it’d be amazing to watch her sons score 1,000 points, Paula Murphy said, but the most important thing is that they win the Bobcat Classic again, bringing to mind that old expression about the path an apple falls from its tree.

Coach Mike McBride called the Bobcats’ performance early on flat on Monday night. The 64-29 final score suggests otherwise, but for awhile the Bobcats weren’t making it look so easy. But then Colin forces a turnover and soon finds himself wide open. He’d finish the game with 23 points.

“THREEEEEE, Colin Murphy!” boomed over the P.A. system. The brothers took off up court with their teammates, little to no emotion visible.